Now that MR has a section devoted to N-scale how about an N-scale section on the forum???
Dave Vollmer kicked off an ‘all things N scale’ thread, similar to the Diner, some years ago. It had an early burst of enthusiasm, flourished for a while, then dried up and blew away. These days Dave visits occasionally. I think he found a different forum, devoted to N scale, but I can’t say for sure.
As for a separate forum for each scale, every time that’s suggested the NAYS have prevailed. Individual thread titles frequently include scale, or a product only available in one scale - but I’ve found that most of the things discussed aren’t scale specific. That helps me, because I personally model in a scale that is very uncommon in the Western Hemisphere. HOj is 1:80 scale, Japanese prototype, on 16.5mm track gauge. The 16.5mm gauge is wide for the prototype’s 1067mm gauge, and the rolling stock has the bulk of American HO. I occasionally refer to it as Twice-N, since North American N scale is 1:160.
(Just to confuse the issue, Nj scale is 1:150.)
My suggestion is, look at everything. Even the garden railroaders can come up with ideas you can shrink to 1:160 scale.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in Twice N, aka HOj)
I agree with Chuck, there are so many similarities from HO to Z that it makes sense to have them together. Lionel and American Flyer (Classic Toy Trains) are significantly different and have their own forum basically together, even though there is significant difference between the two.
Actually, such things as benchwork and scenery are pretty universal. Wiring for HO to Z is all similar, the difference there coming between DC and DCC.
I understand there are other forums with a more focused content on several subjects, but the form of this forum has provides a good attendance base and I have learned a lot from the folks here, whether they are in HO, N, Z or the miscellaneous sizes in between.
Have fun,
Richard
Check out eBay Store, Plaza Japan, for a 1:150 overview – Compatible with 1:160 – A nice intro to quality N Scale manufacturers like Greenmax, Kato, Microace, Sankei, Tomix, Tomytec, etc. Also note locomotives, and motorized chassis for locomotive/shell conversions.
As an N scaler I’d have to say no thanks to that.
I am an avid N scaler (though I have also done things in 1/700, HO, S, O, 1/12 (dollhouse scale), and 1/4 full size). I enjoy another site that has an N scale area, and I enjoyed the n scale area that was on the old atlasrr.com site. I don’t think this forum needs an “N scale only” area, although occasional N scale specific threads are just fine, especially when they deal with issues specific to N.
Just identify it in the thread title when it NEEDS to be. What model paint is the correct color for Santa Fe Mineral Brown on an N scale boxcar? Duh… very little difference in color for this topic. Sometimes smaller scales can use a slightly grayed-out color to suggest distance, but this question not very scale-specific.
I butt in when somebody asks who makes such-and-such a car in HO, say a Santa Fe Caswell drop-bottom gondola, and comment that there is an N scale resin model from Fine N Scale.
I just wish ALL original posts would give a clear though short indication of subject. This thread might better be titled “N scale specific forum?” so that it doesn’t sound like another rehash of “which scale is best?”
I started out on N Scale…moved to HO Scale a couple years ago…and find that I can learn a great deal from a person modeling in any scale. So, it’s nice to hear from folks modeling the various model railroading scales.
Happy Modeling!
Don.
Leighant, it’s ok I think it happens to everybody. sometimes it’ll be an N scale thread and the op might receive HO scale info. I do agree on the titles having the scale in them though.
Oh, i agree.
The only real differences pretty much are:
What commercially available stuff there is available; What scale down scratch building requires; how much one can fit in a space
So anyone can share and learn from the results of others…after all a rock is a rock whether HO scale or Z scale,they can all be scenicked the same way.
[8-|]
I primarily model in N scale but I also model in HO scale traction.
I am an avid N scale modeler since nearly 40 years now.
I didn’t want a special section or post devoted exclusively to Nscale.
I agree greatly whith the fact there is something to learn in each scale which could be converted to your own scale.
This greatly expand Your “oppurtinity mind” to modeling or find a solution to a personal problem in your own scale.
Marc from Belgium